Have you ever created a mental image of our theme text for today, what was going on in the mind of the many onlookers, until the Lord revealed the real intent of the heart of Judas! Have you ever imagined what your thoughts would be if you were there?

There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus. Mary brought in a pint of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet, and then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ followers who would later turn against him, was there. Judas said, “This perfume was worth an entire year’s wages. Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” But Judas did not really care about the poor; he said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the money box, and he often stole from it. Jesus answered, “Leave her alone. It was right for her to save this perfume for today, the day for me to be prepared for burial. You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:2-8 (NCV)

The Lord’s answer to the Scribe and Pharisees reaction to the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16 is good instruction, note verses 13-15 in particular

No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).  Now the Pharisees, who were covetous and lovers of money, heard all these things [taken together], and they began to sneer at and ridicule and scoff at Him. But He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. Luke 16:13-15 AMPC

Beloved, there are overriding spiritual implications on our disposition toward money that tells whether we worship money, thus are idolaters, who are abomination to God, as opposed to those who have gained mastery over money and use it as a tool that it is to give motion to godly vision. The latter is what we must learn, live and teach to ourselves and congregation. The Lord sees everything we do, our motives for doing so that we may fear Him in all we do. The money you have is a trust bequeathed don’t let it become your master. This is where the story in our text comes to light. One party was lavishly worshipping the One she loved with the priciest of her possession, another whose heart and motive the Lord saw criticised pretentiously because he would have had control for selfish use of it, if it was routed through him.

Judas seemed to have a good reason for not wanting to honour Jesus with something of value — maybe the next house, the next car to expand influence and recognition or to hoard against the future and uncertainties. Carefully examine your reasons for setting your limits on giving back to Him who blessed you so. Are they legitimate (such as savings plans for education, health or retirement) or are simply the excuses for having more money to spend on ourselves now or to be in the race with you know who! Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele